Nocppo to conduct autopsy on Divinagracia’s remains

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here is waiting for the remains of Silay City’s alleged top drug personality Michael Vincent Divinagracia.

In a virtual press briefing on Tuesday, Police Lieutenant Abegael Donasco, Nocppo deputy information officer said they will have to subject Divinagracia’s body to postmortem examination to officially confirm his identity.

This, despite the initial confirmation of Police Lieutenant Colonel Robert Petate, Silay City police chief, regarding Divinagracia’s death based on the recovered driver’s license from him.

“Initial pa lang po iyon, we want to make the confirmation official with papers po as basis,” she added.

Petate has earlier confirmed the death of Divinagracia, whose body was found dumped along with an unidentified man at Barangay Pinugay, Baras town, Rizal on May 19, 2021.

Divinagracia was wanted in the province for a drug offense and was tagged as the alleged leader of a drug group operating in Negros.

In fact, a cash reward of P500,000 was previously offered by Nocppo and Silay City Mayor Mark Golez to anyone who could give information on his whereabouts.

Donasco said they have no idea yet when the remains will be transported to the province, adding that they also have not reached out to his family, who is based in Barangay Mambulac, Silay City.

“Waiting pa po kami na madala ang bangkay dito to undergo series of examination,” she said.

With the initial report on his death, Donasco said they will still continuously go after the members of the Divinagracia drug group.

“Kahit po kasi sabihin natin na patay na siya, may existing downlines pa rin po sila,” she added.

Donasco said the provincial police force will not stop until all drug group members will be arrested to eradicate the drug problem.